I hug Austin's arm, loving the feel of his strong and steady heartbeat under my touch. When he dips his chin to meet my eyes, my body sparks to life in all the best ways.
“At the end, you’ll abseil back down to the ground under the guidance of our qualified staff, then you will be done. Any questions?” the supervisor asks.
“Nope. I’m good,” I say.
“Me too,” Austin rumbles.
“Then, don’t let me stop you. Off into the sky you go, lovebirds.”
We climb up a winding staircase that seems to disappear into the canopy above. Each step brings us closer to the treetops until we arrive at a platform high above the forest floor.
When we step forward, an instant rush of adrenaline invigorates me. I glance over at Austin, his eyes wide with excitement and a mischievous grin playing on his lips.This is the man I wanted to see again…
"Ready for an adventure?" he asks, his voice filled with anticipation.
“I’ll go anywhere with you, Austin Graham.”
I take in the breathtaking panoramic view of the forest stretching out as far as the eye can see. The zip lines criss crossing through the canopy beckon to us, promising an exhilarating journey through the sky.
Another staff member clips us into what I can only describe as a ski-lift-type chair big enough for two which takes us up to the next higher platform.
Then there’s a zipline which has my heart racing in all the right ways. “Ladies first?” Austin says waving his hand forward.
I shake my head. “I want to see you do it.”
The smile he gives me is so wide and bright that I’d do anything to see it over and over again. “Damn, I love you,” he says, smacking a hard and fast kiss on my lips before stepping forward and launching himself into the void, whooping with sheer joy as he disappears into the foliage.
I'm frozen in place. Did he just tell me he loved me then left me sitting there?Oh yeah, two can play this game.As soon as my chance comes, I jump off with a loud 'whoop' and follow after my man.
The wind rushes past me as I soar through the air, the thrill of the zipline coursing through my veins. The world blurs around me, leaving only the rush of adrenaline and the thought of Austin ahead.
Reaching the end of the line, Austin waits for me with a grin so big it lights up his face. After helping me unhook myself andsteady my feet, he leads me to the next challenge - a series of swinging logs suspended between trees.
We dance across the logs together, our laughter mingling with the sounds of nature surrounding us. With each obstacle we conquer, all of my worries fade away into oblivion. The trust between us and the bond that has always tied us together feels solid, as if it's morphed into something unbreakable… and utterly beautiful.
But it feels like it’s more than that, something that I cannot put into words. Whatever it is, I’m grateful for it and happy beyond my wildest dreams. I feel complete. Not that I ever believed I would ever need a man to complete me, but it’sthisman,myman, and the knowledge that he’ll always be everything I want and need.
An hour and a half later, after making our way hand in hand over a wooden skywalk surrounded by the thick canopy of trees, we arrive at the last activity—an abseil back to the ground.
Holding his hand tightly, I slowly move to the edge and peek over, my heart lurching at the distance between us and the bottom.
Austin’s thumb slides soothing circles over the back of my hand, sending tingles up my arm that seem to spread out from his touch. “You OK, doc?”
I take in the breathtaking panoramic view of the forest stretching out as far as the eye can see before looking back at a sight that will always be more beautiful to me than anything else. “I’m glad we did this.”
His whole body relaxes and he gently tugs on my arm to pull me against his chest, his hand loosely resting on the back of myneck as he kisses me soft and slow this time. “I love you, too. you know?” I whisper against his lips.
“You’re mine.”
“Always have been. You’re mine, too. You’re stuck with me forever. I bought a packin’ box, remember,” I add.
“Can’t forget that. Never thought a piece of cardboard would tell me everythin’ I ever wanted to hear.”
“Good. The message was received then.”
“Oh yeah.” He’s still grinning when he kisses me again. “Loud and clear.”
“You two ready to get your feet back on the ground now?” the staff member asks, cutting through our little bubble.
